Overhead switch.



No. 744,372. v PATENTED NOV. 17, 1903. W. LOUDLN.

OVERHEAD SWITCH.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 1. 1903.

F0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 744,372. PATENT-ED NOV. 17, 1903.

' W. LOUDEN.

OVERHEAD SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. 1903.

NO MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 PATENTED NOV. 17, 1903.

W. LOUDBN. OVERHEAD SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

No. 744,372. PATENTED NOV. 17, 1903. W. LOUDEN.

OVERHEAD SWITCH.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 1.1903.

N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

lIlllllIlll-IIITAA J Z UNITED STATES Patented. November 17, 1903.

WILLIAM LOUDEN, OF-FAIRFIELD, IOWA.

OVERHEAD SWITCH.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 744,372, datedNovember 17, 1 903.

Application filed June 1, 1903. Serial No. 159,493. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LWILLIAMLOUDEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fairfield, in the county of Jefierson and State of Iowa,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Overhead Switches, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switches for overhead tracks, such as are usedfor feed and litter and merchandise carriers, whereby the carrier can betransferred from one branch track to another; and it consists of meansfor accomplishing this while the tracks are securely held in elevatedposition and for antomatically locking the switch in operative position.It further consists of means for centrally suspending switch and branchtracks comprising T rails, whereby the flanges of said rails are leftfree for the passage of thecarrier on both sides; also, of im provedmeans for preventing the carrier from running off the open ends of thebranch tracks should the switch be misplaced, and in other detailshereinafter set forth, and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure l is a perspective of a switch embodying my invention I andshowing its connection to overhead supports. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig.3 is a side elevation. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2,showing the working parts of the switch in the background. Fig. 5 is avertical section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail view.

Referring to the drawings, A represents overhead joists, to whichbrackets 13 are'secured. To these brackets ordinary track-.

hangers O are attached, so as to suspend an ordinary T-shaped track. Dis the main part of said track, E is the switch-section, and F and G arebranch tracks with which the switch-section is adapted to alternatelyconnect. The main part of the track D and the switch-section E areconnected together by means of a special depending hanger having a mainpart Hand a hinged part I, the end of the main track D being secured tothe main partH and the switch-section E to the hinged part I. The mainpart H has an eye or a hook in its upper end, the same as an ordinarytrack-hanger, by which it is connected to one of the brackets B and bymeans of which the adjoining ends of the tracksDand :E are supported.

end of the branch track F and the hanger K to the end of the branchtrack G. i

L is a switch-plate having a raised portion L and adownwardly-projecting lip Z, forming a hook-shaped groove which catchesover and slides 11 pon an upwardly-projecting flange J on thesupporting-plate J. To the free end of the switch-track E a hanger K isattached, and this hanger K" is secured to the under side of theswitch-plate L by bolts X and is provided with a projecting point a,which passes under the edge of the supporting-plate J and prevents theswitch-plate L from becoming detached therefrom.

M is a latch provided with an upper stud b and a lower stud e. The outerend of the latch M is passed through a hole in an upturned edge d of theplate L, and its lower stud e is passed through a slot in the body ofthe plate and is held slidable in this position by means of the washerN. The flange J on the plate J is fitted with two or more notches O, andinto these notches the inner endof the latch M is pushed by means of acoiled spring S, which encircles its outer end and rests against theupturned edge cl.

P is a trigger which is pivoted upon the upper stud b so as to movelaterally when drawn upon by a cord Q, which is attached to itsouter endand is passed through guideloops R on the ends of raised arms on theplate 1. The trigger P is provided on its inner end with laterallyextended points T, which rest upon the its flange J. X.

Fig. 1 shows the switch in operative position,"'the switch-section Ebeing connected with the branch track F. Fig. 2 represents theswitch-section half-way between the branch tracks F and G and theswitch-plate L mounted centrally on the supporting-plate J. The notchesO are located so that each is immediately over one of the branch tracks,and when the switch-plate is drawn to either plate J and bear againstvside, so the switch-track E will correspond with either of thebranchtracks F or G, the inner end of the latch M will be pushed by thespring S into the notch 0 above said track, and the switch-plate L bythis means will be locked in this position, and the switchsection E willbe held in line with the branch track over which said notch is located.To change the switch to the opposite branch, pull the cord Q on thatside. The first effect will be to cause the prong T on the same side thecord is pulledflto act as a fulcrum, and by drawing the outer end of thetrigger P over to one side the latch M will be withdrawn from the notchin which it is inserted, and the next effect will be to cause theswitchplate L to slide over on the supporting-plate M, so as to bringthe switch-section in line with the other branch track. The pull on thecord being released, the latch M will be pushed by the spring S into theother notch, and the switch will be held in this position. To change theswitch back again to the other branch track, pull on the opposite end ofthe cord Q.

To prevent the carrier from running off the track should the switch getmisplaced, I employ a guard U, having downwardly-projecting andbroadened or inturned ends V, one of which is arranged to stand in frontof the end of the branch track which is open and prevent the carrierfrom running 0E. This guard is secured to the hanger K and is moved withit and the switch-plate L in changing the switch. The hanger K is madeto firmly grasp and support the head of the track-rail, but to occupyonly a limited space laterally, so as to leave the flanges of the railfree on both sides for the passage of the carrier thereon. It is alsopreferably made of two separable pieces, so as to embrace the head ofthe track-rail E between them, and a bolt X is used to hold the partstogether. The upper ends of these parts have diverging ends, which aremade to fit against the under side of the plate L and are securedthereto by bolts Y. The guard U is provided with obliquely-set flangesf, which are made to fit between said diverging ends, and it is held inthis position by a bolt X, passed through a hole in the guard betweenthese flanges and also through a cap Z, placed on the opposite edges ofsaid diverging ends and having obliquely-set flange z to fit over theouter sides of the diverging ends of the hanger K. By this means whenthe bolt X is drawn up tight the guard will be securely held in itsfixed position on the hanger K, and by the movement of the switch-plateL and hanger K" back and forth to change the switch it will alternatelyopen and close the ends of the branch tracks F and G. The hangers K andK are made the same as the hanger K" and are secured to the plate J withbolts, the same as the hanger K is secured to the plate L.

To make a three-way switch, three branch tracks will have to be used.The plate J will have to be made longer and fitted with three notchesinstead of two. The guard U will have to be made longer and providedwith additional downwardly-projecting ends V, so as to cover the openends of the branch tracks and prevent the carrier from running off incase it should happen to be on either of said branch tracks. Otherchanges and modifications may also be made in the construction of theswitch without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is- 1. In an overhead switch, the combination of a maintrack, two or more branch tracks, a switch-section adapted to aline withthe branch tracks, said tracks consisting of abutting sections of aninverted-T rail with suitable supports therefor, a track-hangerembracing the head of the main-track rail near the end thereof, and atwo-part clamp pivotally connected to said track hanger, and clampedupon the head of the adjoining end of the switch-section.

2. In a switch of the character described, a

track-hanger embracing the head of the maintrack rail near the endthereof, and having a vertically-disposed pivot portion on its outeredge, a two-part clamp secured to the head of the adjoining end of theswitch-section and having semicircular-shaped prongs on their outer endsadapted to embrace and turn on the pivot portion of the track-hanger.

3. In an overhead switch, the combination of a supporting-plate adaptedto be secured to the under side of an overhead timber, two or morehangers secured to said plate and each supporting the end of a branchtrack, a switch-plate mounted on one edge of the supporting-plate andadapted to slide thereon, a hanger secured to the under side of saidswitch-plate and supporting one end of a switch-section, and permittingits alinement with said branch tracks, and means for shifting theposition of the switch-plate upon the supporting-plate.

4. In an overhead switch, the combination of a supporting-plate, two ormore hangers secured to said plate and each supporting the end of abranch track, a switch-plate mounted on the supporting-plate and adaptedto slide thereon, a hanger secured to said switch-plate and supportingone end of a switch-section, and permitting its alinement with saidbranch tracks, and means for shifting the position of the switch-plateupon the supporting-plate, and for looking it in posi-' tion thereon.

5. In an overhead switch, the combination of a supporting-plate havingan upwardlyprojecting flange thereon, two or more hangers secured tosaid plate and each supporting the end of a branch track, a switch-platemounted on the supporting-plate and having a groove adapted to catchover and slide upon the flange on the supporting-plate, a hanger securedto said switch-plate and supporting one end of a switch-section, andpermitting its alinement with said branch tracks, and means for shiftingthe position of the switchplate upon the supporting plate and forlocking it in position thereon.

6. In a switch of the character described, the combination ofasupporting-plate, branch tracks connected thereto and supported thereby,a switch-plate mounted-on said supporting-plate and connecting andsupporting a a switch-section, and a latch carried by said switch-plate,and adapted to hold said plates in fixed position. v

7. In a switch of the character described, the combination of asupporting-plate having an upwardly-projecting flange with hotchestherein, branch tracks connected to and supported by said plate, aswitch-plate mounted onsaid supporting-plate and connecting with andsupporting a switch-section and a latchbolt mounted on said switch-plateand adapted to enter and be retracted from the notches in said flange.

8. In a switch of the character described, the combination of asupporting-plate having an upwardly-projecting flange with notchestherein, branch tracks connected to and supported by said plate, aswitch-plate mounted on said supporting-plate and connecting with andsupporting a switch-section a springpressed latch-bolt mounted on saidswitchplate and adapted to enter the notches in said flange and adouble-acting trigger pivoted on said latch-bolt and adapted to withdrawit from said notches.

9. In a switch of the character described, the combination of asupporting-plate having an upwardly-projecting flange with notchestherein, branch tracks connected to and supported by said plate, aswitch-plate mounted on said supporting-plate and connecting with andsupporting a switch-section, a springpressed latch-bolt mounted on saidswitchplate and adapted to enter the notches in said flange and atrigger having oppositely-set laterally-extended arms adapted to actalternately as fulcrums, and when moved in either direction to withdrawthe latch-bolt from said notches. V

10. In a switch of the character described, the combination of asupporting-plate having eyes on the ends thereof, and anupwardlyprojecting flange with notches therein,branch tracks connectedto and supported by said plate, aswitch-plate mounted on saidsupporting-plate and connected to and supporting a switch-section, aspring-pressed latch-bolt mounted on said switch-plate, a double-actingtrigger pivoted on said latch-bolt, and adapted to withdraw it from saidnotches, and a trip-cord secured to the free end of said trigger, andpassed through said guide-eyes.

11. In a switch of the character described, comprising asupporting-plate, a switch-plate and inverted-T-rail tracks supported bysaid plates, the combination of track-hangers made in two parts andhaving upper diverging ends secured to said plates and their lower endsembracing the heads of said rails, and means to hold said hangers inengagement therewith.

12. In a switch of the characterdescribed, the combination of branchtracks, a movable switch-plate, a switch-section, a hanger having itslower end secured to the end of the switch-section adjoining the branchtracks, and its upper end attached to the switchplate, a guard securedto said hanger and projected down in front of the ends of the branchtracks so as to alternately close the passageway on said tracks.

13; In a switch of the character described, the combination of branchtracks, a movable switch-plate, a switch-section, ahanger having itslower end secured to the end of the switch-section adjoining the branchtracks, and its upper end attached to the switchplate, a guard securedto said hanger and having laterally-extended ends, projected down infront of the ends of the branch tracks so as to alternately close thepassage-way on said tracks.

14:. In a switch of the character described, the combination of branchtracks, a movable switch-plate, a switch-section, a two-part hangerhaving its lower end secured to the end of the switch-section adjoiningthe branch tracks and having its upper ends made diverging and attachedto. the switch-plate, a guard having beveled flanges adapted to fitbetween said diverging ends, and having its ends projected down in frontof the ends of the branch tracks so as to alternately close thepassage-way on said tracks, and .means' for clamping the'guard upon saiddiverging ends.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence oftwo witnesses.

WILLIAM LOUDEN.

Witnesses:

J nssrn M. STARKEY, CORA E. WEBBER.

